History of Logan County

On September 17, 1887, Governor John A. Martin, by proclamation, declared the organization of Logan County, Kansas and appointed officers to hold office until the election and qualification of legally elected officers took place. Population of the county at the time was 3,112. Valuation, not including railroad and exemptions, was $447,534 of which sum real estate amounted to $123,505.

There were ten townships in the county:

Augustine

Elkader

Lees

Logansport

McAllaster

Monument

Russell Springs

Western

Winona

Oakley

Paxton was made later by taking land from two of the townships. There was only one city-Oakley, which had been incorporated at this time on October 15, 1887. In 1888 there were 37 school districts in the county.

County Seat

Later an election was held for the purpose of locating the county seat permanently at which there were 1,022 votes cast. Russell Springs received a majority by eighteen votes over all other cities and was declared the county seat. Russell Springs became a thriving community, a new courthouse was built and in 1890 the commissioners accepted a gift of one hundred trees for the courthouse grounds.

Russell Springs continued to be the county seat until 1963 at which time it was moved to Oakley. This move came after thirty three months of heated battles with the Kansas Supreme Court upholding the District Court's decision to accept the election results in which only three votes were the deciding factor. On August 13, 1963, all records were moved to Oakley. A new courthouse was completed on West Second Street in 1965. The building in Russell Springs became the Butterfield Trail Museum.

Logan County Today

Current population of the county is 3,113 with 2072 residing in Oakley. The current population of Winona is 190; Russell springs 28; Page city, Monument and other surrounding area make up the 823 that remain. Logan County has two school districts, located in Oakley and Winona.